Metta: Peace on Earth, goodwill toward all

Around Christmas time, you often hear the phrase “peace on Earth, goodwill towards men”, which is intended to celebrate the Christmas spirit, God’s love and so on.* In Buddhism we often talk about something similar, but different, called metta, but what is metta?

Metta, usually gets translated as “loving-kindness”, but for a while now, I have been under the belief that metta is more like “goodwill”. Loving-kindness has an inherent feeling of gushing with feeling love, where goodwill is a more calm, collected, but equally sincere good feelings toward others. This seems more in keeping with Buddhism’s teachings as we shall see.

In the famous Metta Sutta (SN 1.8 ) of the Pali Canon we see the following text first:

Let him be able, and upright and straight,
Easy to speak to, gentle, and not proud,
Contented too, supported easily,
With few tasks, and living very lightly;
His faculties serene, prudent, and modest,
Unswayed by the emotions of the clans;
And let him never do the slightest thing
That other wise men might hold blamable.

So, here one’s mind is firm and stable, not easily swayed, nor bearing anything shameful (i.e. no skeletons in the closet), but also very gentle, kind and easy going, not demanding.

Then the Buddha teaches how such a person should feel toward others:

[And let him think:] “In safety and in bliss
May creatures all be of a blissful heart.
Whatever breathing beings there may be.
No matter whether they are frail or firm,
With none excepted, be they long or big
Or middle-sized, or be they short or small
Or thick, as well as those seen or unseen,
Or whether they are dwelling far or near,
Existing or yet seeking to exist.
May creatures all be of a blissful heart.

So, in Buddhism metta, extends to all living beings, not just men, or people of a certain disposition, belief system or personality. Metta is for all beings at all times. This is in keeping with the nature of a Bodhisattva, who selflessly strives to perfect themselves and to help all beings, lifetime after lifetime. In Chapter 14 of the Lotus Sutra, I found a really nice excerpt this morning:

If one would preach this sutra, [The Lotus Sutra]
Let him renounce an envious, angry, proud
deceitful, or false mind,
and ever do upright deeds;
He should disparage none,
and never for diversion discuss the laws, [idle chatter?]
nor cause others doubt or regret,
Saying: ‘You will never become buddhas.’
This Buddha-son in preaching the Law [The Dharma]
Will ever be gentle, patient,
And compassionate to all,
With never a thought of slackness…

So on this Christmas season, and for all times, let all beings be well, and may they all attain perfect peace.

Namuamidabu

P.S. I am also reminded of the words of Shinran, the 13th century Japanese priest:

yo no naka annon nare (世の中安穏なれ)
May there be peace in the world.

* – Interestingly, someone pointed out that in Latin at least, the phrase is et in terra pax hominibus, bonae voluntatis where bonae voluntatis is genitive. So, if that is true, the phrase actually doesn’t mean “goodwill toward men”, but “peace to men of goodwill [towards God?].” My very rusty Latin seems to confirm that. Goodwill to all men would be something like bonus voluntatis hominibus omnium or something along those lines. Honestly, I really could be wrong.